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Friday, October 31, 2014

It's always nice to have a space at home where you can get work done. And because it's your home office, you can style it any way you want. Here are three tips for getting the most out of your home office.

First, always remember that if you're short on space, more than one person can share a home office. These offices maximize space by including a place for two people to work independently. Above we see one long desk, and below two smaller desks, depending on what your space allows. I wouldn't feel crammed in either of these spaces.

Second, add a touch of glamour to your home office! Luckily adding glam isn't hard at all, just add a hint of black. Black equals instant glam as you can see in these office designs (above & below). Très chic indeed.

Third, if you don't have a home office, create one. If you can spare a small closet you can make for yourself an office in no time. Take a look at the sunny closet turned office below. If this is the perfect DIY project for your office lacking space, then click over to House Beautiful's suggestions for making the most out of a closet turned office.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Since Neon is as bright as colors come, it seemed fitting to give you a dose of neon to brighten your day! You'll be suprised by how much neon decor can add to a room. It may just be the most underutilized and fun color palette around. Let's see if I can convince you to give neon a try!

This highlighter yellow rocking chair (above) adds the perfect amount of charm to this pink sitting area. The brass light fixture also adds a special feature to this room, but the neon is the highlight of this happy look.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

1. Friendly Door Mat - Nothing says "Welcome" more than a friendly first impression! If you like the idea of putting your last name or a custom design on your door mat, then check out this tutorial for a DIY door mat at Old Blue Silo blog. It's really easy!

2. Arrange Furniture for Conversation - Don't feel like you have to have all of your furniture against the wall. Pulling the furniture in creates a more intimate conversation space. Also, having seating in the middle of a room like in the photo, allows every seat in the room to be a great seat for conversation!

3. Freshly Fluffed Sofa & Pillows - If you have a saggy sofa you'll be glad to know there is a very easy DIY method for breathing fresh life into your saggy sofa cushions and the supplies are only $10. You can find an easy tutorial here on the Living Rich on Less blog. Visit Decoist blog for tips on the art of pillow placement!

5. Resort Feel - Having fruit infused water available or a fresh glass of lemonade is a wonderful way to welcome your guest. Try this recipe for infused waterand this recipe for strawberry lemonade the next time you have a visitor stop by. Absolutely refreshing, just like at the resort!

6. Engage Your Guest - With interesting coffee table books and curiosities! This will ensure that people stay comfortable and engaged even if you have to step away for a moment. Here are two of my coffee table books: The Houses of Veranda and A Year of Festivals (A Lonely Planet Guide).

7. Fresh Flowers & Plants - Fresh flowers & plants are the easiest and most classic way to give your home a more inviting feel. If you want to make sure your home always has this fresh look, try a large faux potted plants like this one.

The Langham Hotel in Chicago (above) is just stunning with its custom glass bauble installation art hanging in the lobby. The lobby is both sophisticated and whimsical, a combination that is one of my favorites! The choice of neutral and cream colored furnishings really allows the accessories to shine, while creating a relaxing environment for the Langham Hotel traveler. Skillful design indeed.

Take a look at their website and you'll find that their rooms are just as stylish and upscale as the lobby. I'd certainly book an extended stay here. If you're ever in Chicago, I should note that The Langham Hotel features hand-crafted cocktails and live music every Friday and Saturday night (8:30-12, but call first to confirm the schedule hasn't changed - more info here). The city views are an added bonus!

Richly dyed furnishings and the crystal lighting of the hotel above exude luxury. This lobby says to the style maven, "You are just where you belong." What more could you want from a hotel? Well, perhaps a comfortable bed too, but something tells me that won't be a problem here.

The Hotel Bel-Air is California casual-luxury at its best! I love the contrasting black accents on the armchairs and with the arrival of Fall's crisp air, I especially appreciate the inclusion of a cozy fireplace. The arched french windows add to this hotel's luxurious charm. This hotel also features a highly-recommended bar & restaurant with a menu crafted by Wolfgang Puck and nightly live music. Doesn't this hotel space make you want to cozy-up and relax?-- while dressed very stylishly of course.

Sofitel So Singapore Hotel, Designed by Karl Lagerfeld, Image via ButterBoomHow unique are the hexagonal wine racks at the Singapore Sofitel's lobby bar? The designers achieve a contemporary and distinctly memorable look. This hotel is on my list of hotel designs I must see in person. Hopefully I'll be sharing a photo with youof myself in this very lobby in the not too distant future. Fingers crossed!

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Everyone enjoys the luxurious expanse of a walk-in closet. Add a dash of chic accessories, equally attractive clothing, the perfect storage system, and voila! You have the perfect walk-in closet. The addition of a stunning chandelier and stylish arm chair, as in the closet above, certainly helps convey the feel of luxury!

Want to know how the inside of a super model's closet looks? Well, above the closet of Gisele Bündchen is just as pretty and expansive as expected, and complete with beautiful fresh flowers. Why not add fresh floral accents to your dressing space? It's a fresh touch of the outdoors and the perfect way to introduce your favorite color!

Above, the large glass sliding doors allow fantastic shopping finds to be on full display. This is the perfect style for those who like a more clean, minimalist style.

And let's not forget about all of the guys out there. Just like every man wants a mancave, he wants a debounair walk-in closet too! The men's closet below is the epitomy of luxury for the well-dressed man.

Mariah Carey's lovely white closet is an excellent lesson in why you should use your own clothing as decor in your dressing space. Here colorful silk dresses pop against the white and gold backdrop. I'm sure you have a favorite dress in your closet that is dying to be highlighted! Hang one single dress on an attractive hook on the wall or even several stylish pieces on a small clothing rack.

Another fun idea is to display some of your favorite designers on the wall. Below, Erica Cook of Moth Design displayed bags from her favorite shopping trips in classic white ikea frames. Take a look at how she styled her closet here.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Art is inseparable from design. So, it's high time I let you know just how much I love art! The stunning rooms featured here all reach a new depth by including artistic sculptures. Above we see the earthy "O" sculpture in the background, and the distinct walking sculpture in the foreground. These sculptures become a part of the space and give life to the room even when completely unoccupied.
This blog will feature a variety of art forms both within and beyond the realm of interior design. So, let's explore together the unlimited possibilities of art in design and the art of life.

How impactful is the tiny nook above! It has three sculptures, hanging artwork, and a bold animal print chair and it all comes together just masterfully.
Below, I am delighted by the eclectic nature of the sculptures featured. This room features a large monk statute created by Xiao Li and a whimsical red mobile created by Alexander Calder. The living space feels global, airy, and most notably zen. This is definitely a space I'd love to call my own.

There are men on the wall! How unexpected is that? I'd certainly say this is a fresh perspective on including sculptures in the home! That's one of the very best things about art, it provides unlimited potential to the design of your home.

Photo by Manolo Yllera

There's no shortage of visual interest in the eclectic home shown above. You'll be surprised by just how many sculptures you'll count in this space. As you can see, the more artwork you add, the merrier.
The London home below is equally interesting. Just take a look at the avant-garde sculpture featuring chic lampshades for the figure's head. Unexpected yet again! So when it comes to adding a special sculpture to your space, just go for it. It really adds depth and personality to your home. Select a sculpture that makes you feel happy and you'll be well on your way!

Saturday, October 11, 2014

If you're looking for a new place to travel to within the U.S., Seattle may be the perfect location. I absolutely love this city, and so does our guest blogger today Lauren Hughes of Lolly Jayne Loves.

Hi,
I'm Lauren Hughes, a graphic and web designer working at Nordstrom. I
blog over at Lolly
Jayne Loves and
I will be launching my art and style blog Bank
of Swans really,
really soon! So, I "officially" moved to Seattle from the
UK just over 2 years ago. I use "officially" because
Seattle has seemed like home for much, much longer than that. My
parents have lived in Seattle for around 12 years, so I have spent a lot of
time back and forth between there and the UK. As I said I
decided to make the move a permanent one 2 years ago, and I have
never for one second regretted that decision. Seattle really is my
home and I love it, and I'm excited to get to share a little bit of
it with all of you in this post.

1. Volunteer Park

Seattle
is all about nature and being outside, there are so many gorgeous
spots to explore in and around the city and, of course, the
surrounding mountains and islands. I feel really lucky that I live
in walking distance of a place as beautiful as Volunteer Park, it's
the perfect bit of tranquillity in the heart of Capitol Hill.
Being a stunning open space would be enough to encourage you to stop
by here but Volunteer Park has so much more to offer than just green
lawns and tall trees. All year round there are events going on, from
Shakespeare plays in the summer, to music festivals, markets, and
Christmas Caroling in the Winter. Also, there are stunning vistas of
the city and the Space Needle. It is also home to the Seattle
Asian Art Museum, which
has amazing exhibits all year round. And then last but by no means
least there is the Conservatory, which
is home to so many beautiful plants, roses, lilies, cacti,
succulents, palm trees, and ferns. The Conservatory also hosts unique
events throughout the year.

All
in all Volunteer Park is the perfect spot to take a break from all
the hustle and bustle of the city without having to go very far at
all.

2. The London Plane

The
London Plane is
one of my favorite Seattle spots. Housed in the historic Pioneer
Square neighborhood
of downtown Seattle, The London Plane is, to quote "part cafe,
part specialty foods grocery, and part floral workshop". This is
the place to go when you're looking for elegant brunch,
sophisticated cocktails or a unique dinner. Their brunch is
special, an in-house bakery serves up a myriad of pastries
and breads as well a variety of cereals, yogurts,
vegetables, and grains. It's a great alternative to all the heavy,
stodgy food you often find available for brunch.

My food choice is always their mezze of beet hummus, caramelized cauliflower-eggplant spread & cashew romesco, accompanied by either a glass of red wine or rose. Not only can you get great food here at The London Plane, you can also pick up all kinds of produce to take home with you from their exquisitely stocked grocery section, or pick up new stationery, soap or some new art from their boutique shop. All of this AND they can even teach you how to arrange flowers in one of their many floral workshops going on throughout the year. You would also be really silly not to grab a slice of their ginger cake on the way out, trust me!

3. The Pink Door

The
Pink Door is one of the cutest dinner spots in Seattle. It's located
right in the heart of the touristy Pike Place Markets, but it's
tucked secretly away down Post Alley hidden behind, you guessed it, a
pink door. You could be forgiven for walking straight past as its
only identifiable by its door, but once you step inside you instantly
know you're in the right place. It's charming and cozy, rustic in its
decor, homely and welcoming. This place is always pretty busy so it's
best to book in advance if you can. If your lucky enough to make it
when a show is on your in for a treat. The Pink Door plays host to
cabaret performances, trapeze artists who soar above you as you dine
and burlesque shows. If you head here in Summer be sure to sit
outside on the deck with its amazing views overlooking Elliot Bay and
the Olympic Mountain Range.

The food reflects the vibe of the
place, it's Italian-American fair and it's hearty and wholesome and
totally satisfying, the pasta is not to be missed. We dined on
Risotto Al Limone - shrimp, scallops and Bloomsdale spinach and one
of their constantly changing specials, squid ink spaghetti, with
mussels, clams and calamari in a spicy tomato sauce, and baskets of
bread. You also can't go wrong with their decadent chocolate sponge
dessert. Mouthwateringly good. The Pink Door is the perfect place for
a date or a celebration, it's a definitely night you won't
forget in a hurry.